Lesson 130. It is impossible to see two worlds.
In our last Gentle Healing class, several participants demonstrated the point being made in today’s lesson. Rhoda was one of these participants. She shared that she was suffering in an experience she was having in the world, but her suffering experience of the world was replaced when she made a conscious decision to suspend the thoughts she was having. Those thoughts, only moments previous, were judged as valuable. When she released those thoughts and instead allowed Awareness to be present, immediately her world changed. I am doing a lot of paraphrasing here but when the thoughts were recognized as worthless and released, they were gone. There was an instant wash followed by an experience of release and relief. One world disappeared and was replaced by another. It is a story of how the world of differences disappeared and another, the Divine Self, came into view.
ACIM, Chapter 12, the section titled, Attainment of the Real World describes this experience like this; “In perfect sanity he looks on love, for it is all about him and within him. He must deny the world of pain the instant he perceives the arms of love around him. And from this point of safety he looks quietly about him, and recognizes that the world is one with him.”
This section continues as it describes the disappearance of one world and its replacement, “You will first dream of peace, and then awaken to it. Your first exchange of what you made for what you want is the exchange of nightmares for the happy dreams of love. In these lie your true perceptions, for the Holy Spirit [right mindedness] corrects the world of dreams where all perception is…Yet the dreams of love lead unto knowledge [Awareness].”
Today’s lesson is an obvious extension of yesterday’s lesson titled, “Beyond this world is a world I want.” That lesson said, “Our emphasis is not on giving up the world, but on exchanging it for what is far more satisfying, filled with joy, and capable of offering you peace. Today’s lesson says, “What we would learn today is more than just the lesson that you cannot see two worlds. It also teaches that the one [world] you see is quite consistent from the point of view from which you see it. It is all a piece because it stems from one emotion, and reflects its source in everything you see.”
In Michael Langford’s book titled The Direct Means To Eternal Bliss, he says “After the extremely intense desire for Freedom is awakened, every moment of one’s life is dedicated to awakening from the human dream.” He calls this Choice A. He continues, “When the extremely intense desire for Freedom is awakened, all of the ego’s lies, tricks, deceptions and games are seen for what they are and all of the ego’s lies, tricks, deceptions and games eventually end. When the extremely intense desire for Freedom is awakened, the nightmare the ego has created is no longer tolerated.” Michael Langford calls the ego imposter Choice B.
Michael Langford is again making the point that it is impossible to see two worlds when he admonishes us to choose Choice A over Choice B. “Choice A is Eternal Life. Choice A is to live as your true Self forever. Choice A is absolutely perfect joy. Choice B is being identified with a body subject to suffering, disease, death, violence, anger, fear, etc. Choice B is to allow an imposter called the ego to pretend to be yourself and control you.” Today’s lesson encourages a deeper contemplation of Choice A and Choice B. And we shall realize we have made the choice for Choice A when we are deeply committed to spiritual practice.
